The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-01
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE DEVILS AUCTION.

The familiar spectacle of "The Devils
Auction, or the Golden Branch, was brought
out by Gilmore's company at Portland
Theatre, last night, before very large au-
dience; one that packed the house and gree
ted all the variety business with tremendous
applause. The variety. or specially, bust
ness and the ballet, are the chief characters
tics Of the spectacle in small Cities although
the management Of last night, should be
praised for considerable scenic attempt and
that too of a praiseworthy nature. The
prettiest. and most pleasing, feature of the
spectacle was the Mikado ballet, in which
the leading scenes of the opera were made
the subject of dances to the music of the
popular numbers. The Snow Brothers
created roars of laughter by their acrobatic
feats, and when one of the brothers got into
the, gallery and pretended to be so terribly
awkward the. delight of the audience cul-
minated In shouts Of satisfaction. The
Salom0nskyS, in their grotesque dancing in
the Cavalry ballet" showed their agility.
and lgnacio Martinetti and Edith Murilla as
Toby and Jeanette brought down the house
In their song and dance. All the other
features of the piece were warmly received,
and the grand transformation scene was
heightened by the calcium light. The cur
tain was called on each act. The play will
be repeated tonight.
+ IRELAND AND THE IRISH.
Speaking of Mr.. ii. W. French's illustra-
ted lecture which will be given at City Hall
tonight an exchange says: "Mr. Henry w
French, the well-known lecturer, gave the
first of his two new lectures on ireland and
the Irish" at the Boston Theatre last eve
ming before large audience. The lecture
was given in response to an invitation sign
ed by Mayor O'Brien, Mr.. John Boyle o.
Kelley and other prominent Irishmen of
the city. and scored a marked success. The
locale of the discourse was Dublin, Wicklow,
Armagh, Belfast, and the north country
about the Giants Causeway, and although
the lecture was in form description of
travel, 1t took advantage Of the occasion to
treat somewhat the present social and poll
teal condition of Ireland. This Mr.. French
treated from very Liberal standpoint to
the great approval of the audience, who
greeted every allusion to the country's down
trodden condition with loud applause Mr..
French has been fortunate in taking sub
lect that is widely interesting America at
present"
THE NASHVILLE STUDENTS.
The original Nashville Students, the cele-
brated plantation and jubilee singers, are to
appear at City Hall Monday evening, Feb
14th, under the auspices of the Woman's
Auxiliary to the Y. M. C. A. They have
appeared in almost every State in the Union
and many cities and towns in Canada,
They claim to be the best colored concert
company in the world.
ALASKA.
The seventh entertainment in the Y. NJ. C.
A. course will be given at City Hall, Thurs
day evening, Feb. 10th, and will consist of
an illustrated lecture on Alaska. by Dr. C.
D. Hendrickson of Boston, who was accom-
panied on his tour of 1886 by an experienced
and competent photographer and is thus en-
aDled 70 present to the public for the first
time a truly creditable series of illustra-
lions of this weird land.
sTocKBRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT.
Giese, the violoncellist, the Arclamena
Ladies' Quartette. Miss Latham, soprano.
and Miss Brown, reader, make a strong bill
for Stockbridge's seventeenth entertainment
TO be given at City Hall tomorrow night.
Good seats can be secured at Stockbridge's.
THE OPERA
Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant. will be
the first OF the three operas to the presented
by Stetson's company at CITY Hall this weelr
and Thursday night the time. Those who
nave not secured tickets should do SO at once.
MECHANICS COURSE
Shaw's Quartette, assisted by Miss Gree
ly, soprano, and Mr.. Foss, elocutionist will
appear in the Mechanics free course to-
night.
UNITY LODGE ANNIVERSARY.
The tenth anniversary of Unity Lodge,
No. 3, /. o. o. f., will be observed at Odd
Fellows Hall, by an entertainment and
supper, Wednesday evening, Feb 9th. The
exercises will consist of vocal and instru-
mental music and reading. Immediately
after the entertainment supper will be
served in the banquet hall.
NOTES.
Mr.. Gilbert has altered the text In the
second act of 'Ruddygore' so as to
strengthen the production. The ghosts Of
the ancestors no longer come to life and the
soldiers OF the first act return to pair with
the bridesmaids.
The National Opera Company will play a
return engagement of single week at the
Boston Theatre in two weeks. There will
be change Of bill every night, as follows:
Monday, "Lohengrin !" Tuesday, Martha"
Thursday. AIDA" Friday, Faust" Satur-
day matinee, ''Lohengrin;" Saturday, De-
libe's three-act ballet, "Coppelia," preceded
by the second act of "Lakme."